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READING STYLE GUIDE

Hands On. Minds On.

3/14/2020

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Recently several parents and grandparent have asked about materials for homeschoolers.  They are familiar with available packaged programs. They have wonder: Is there something more? Yes, there is. 

TinkerActive Workbooks

​TinkerActive Workbook series is designed for young learners ages 5-8.  Three disciplines are covered within each grade level: English, Math, and Science. 
The workbooks are sturdy, with stiff, laminate covers.  This will protect from spills that may occur. Thick quality paper, pages with round corners.  A lot of thought is evident in the creation of this series.
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All workbooks follow a similar pattern: A concept is introduced with Let's Learn About which consists of basic information and a few interesting activities to practice the concept. Then the real fun begins with Let's Tinker, Let's Make, and Let's Engineer projects related to the concept.  All activities require a collection of materials and simple tools, such as glue, markers, scissors, boxes, etc. Each consumable book includes stickers and a magnetic merit badge. These hands on, minds on projects are FUN. From the clever quirky minds at Odd Dot.
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Calling All Minds: How to Think and Create Like an Inventor
by Temple Grandin with Betsy Lerner

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Calling All Minds is an intriguing mix of inventor mini-biographies, images of registered inventions from the U.S. Patent office with step-by step project instructions.  Grandin frames these elements within a running narrative describing her personal journey of discovery.  She introduces readers to her thinking process, her experiments with various concepts, and schematic drawings of her creations. 
The book is organized into five general sections: "Things Made of Paper," "Levers and Pulleys," "Things Made of Wood," "Things That Fly", and "Optical Illusions." Each section includes a cornucopia of material that is loosely connected. Like the discovery process, they do not flow in a strict linear fashion, instead inviting moments of serendipity along the way.
​"Things Made of Paper" chapter callout boxes contain a plethora of STEM-related components. Readers will find brief introductions to the history of these inventions: moveable type, the typewriter, Liquid Paper, scissors, and Crayola crayons. Bonus material includes an explanation of the term QWERTY and a discussion of the Fibonacci "golden ratio."  Makers are treated to directions for creating Handmade Paper, Paper Snowflakes, a Crystal Snowflake, a Kaleidoscope, and Water Bombs.
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Explorer Academy by Trudi Trueit

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National Geographic takes on a new publishing venture with Explorer Academy, a fiction series combining action-adventure with science, technology and world exploration. Twelve-year-old Cruz Coronado is a member of Explorer Academy, an international team of young people training to become the world's future scientists.
Trueit has created stories with action, intrigue, and suspense galore. At one point in my reading I replied to a request from an individual near me, saying “I can’t come right now. Cruz is trapped underwater and can’t breathe.” 
​Those who love scientific and geographical trivia will be fascinated with all the factoids scattered throughout the narrative. All volumes are chock-full of fascinating futuristic tech gadgets. There is a Jules Verne quality to the series, envisioning scientific achievements that may become a future reality.
​National Geographic has created a wealth of extras to enhance the series. The treasure trove of online resources includes codes and ciphers to solve, profiles of scientists working on cutting edge advances. There’s an animation video of C.A.V.E. (Computer Animated Virtual Experience), a slide show of "Weird But True" facts,  and personality quiz to determine a science-interest type.

Crafty Cat series by Charise Harper

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Comics, a charming cat, and crafts. What more could you ask for?
Crafty Cat and the Crafty Camp Crisis is a story of expectations, making friends, and dealing with bullies is appropriate for younger readers. Back pages include directions for making each of the six monster crafts described in the text. 
​I followed the directions for making mini monsters. This is a fun and easy-to-do project. These paper critters would be great as place cards. Add a message to accompany a gift package. Set one of a shelf for an expected surprise.
​With great characters, clever dialog, and simple craft projects, Charise Mericle Harper has a created a graphic novel series for young craft and comic enthusiasts.
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Bonus: There's No Place Like Home

Looking for additional resources to support home-centered learning?  Try these.
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KidLitTV stories, crafts & activities
Celebrated actors read children's books.
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Activity guides from Just Us Books
Create with Jarrett  J. Krosoczka
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​Plan your day with this suggested daily schedule from NESCA (Neuropsychology & Education Services for Children & Adolescents. Accessed via Lorena Germán 
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Weave Me a Story

9/17/2019

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At the Mountain's Base by Traci Sorell ill by Weshoyot Alvitre

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Sorell's cumulative verse begins beneath a hickory tree at the base of a mountain. The scene zooms in to reveal a cabin beneath the spreading branches of the tree. Stepping inside the cabin, readers see a simple yet welcoming home. Generations of Cherokee women watch as a grandma picks up fibers and weaves a pattern. She is intertwining more than strands of colored wool. She is weaving together a family, bound by love and tradition. 
Her threads extend beyond the walls of the cabin and encompass a family member far away.
A pilot flying far away in war-ravaged skies senses the influence of her grandma's songs and prayers. It is a prayer is for peace and a safe return.
An Author's Note explains that while this story fictional, it is based on the service of one Native American woman, Ola Mildred "MIllie" Rexroat an OgLaLa Lakota pilot. 
Alvitre's evocative illustrations highlight Native American culture and the strong influence of the family matriarch. My favorite illustration is a two-page spread close-up of grandma's gnarled arthritic hands as she weaves. Her years of devotion to family and her craft are a testament to a grandmother's care for her family.
At the Mountain's Base offers a glimpse into a tightly knit structure that treasures home and family.
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The Art of Weaving

My family's roots are in the American Southwest. Through marriage, friendships, and partnerships, we have learned to appreciate and respect the Navajo Nation. We were blessed to receive a beautiful hand-woven blanket, made from natural fibers and woven in a pattern similar to the blanket featured in the video.
I have always admired the intricately woven baskets similar to those created by Native American artist Shan Goshorn. 

Cumulative Verse

Explore these wonderful cumulative tales.  They might inspire youngsters to try writing their own cumulative verse.
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Uncorrected copy provided by publisher
Pub date: September 17, 2019  Publisher: Kokila  ISBN: 978-0735230606
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It Takes a Thief

8/8/2019

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The Good Thieves by Katherine Rundell

"It's impossible," she told herself.
But, whispered a small voice inside her, impossible doesn't mean it's not worth trying.
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Nobody can fashion a tale quite like master story-spinner Katherine Rundell. ​
​Her previous books have taken her readers to Africa, Paris, Russia, and the Amazon rainforest. Now she turns her considerable storytelling skills to North America. The Good Thieves is set in New York City during the 1920’s, an era of speakeasies and bootleg liquor. It was a time rife with crime and corruption, when mob bosses could shamelessly pay their way into influencing government officials. Much of the action takes place at familiar city landmarks: Central Park, Plaza Hotel, Main Library, subway, the Bowery.
Vita and her mother travel to America to rescue her grandfather. Due to a fraudulent scheme perpetuated by crime lord Victor Sorrotore, Grandfather has lost the family home, a magnificent old castle. The swindle has left him destitute.
This young heroine sets out to retrieve her grandfather's hidden jewel and reclaim his rightful property. She meets and enlists the help of a young pickpocket, an animal trainer, and an aerialist. The foursome set out to steal back grandfathers stolen property.
There is a plan. Like all plans, things don't go exactly as intended. Events take several unexpected turns. There are interesting plot twists and perils that will keep readers in suspense, breathlessly turning pages. Vita is resolute. Despite obstacles, a painfully malformed foot, and her own fears to she is determined to prevail.  She is motivated by her sense of justice and love for her grandfather. The tenderness of her devotion becomes evident when she returns to her grandfather with the hard-won prize.
In a bizarre turn of events, a section of my hometown experienced a power outage. I read a large portion of the tale, including intense scenes, by flashlight. ​ I sat in pitch darkness reading with a small circle of light illuminating each page. Try reading of a penknife sailing through the air with deadly accuracy, of guard dogs trained to kill, of tortoises with diamonds and rubies implanted into their shells, of riding bareback through the night on "borrowed" horses.  Try reading this in the deepest and darkest of nights. 
This is not the time to be afraid...You can be afraid later, when it's over.
The tale is a heart- pounding, while knuckled, breath- catching escapade. Tension mounts and becomes almost unbearable as Vita limps through the dark castle, trying to locate the hidden emerald. Sorrotore simultaneously begins a systematic search in the lightless rooms, seeking the girl who stole his ring and seizing the secret cache.
The Good Thieves is a story of a girl with a simple wish which is not-so-simple. It’s a story of extraordinary courage and daunting obstacles. It’s a story of miracles.

Meet the Author

More Magical Storytelling

Want to experience more incredible Rundell stories? I highly recommend these middle grade novels.
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Uncorrected copy provided by publisher.
Pub date: August 27, 2019  Publisher: Simon & Schuster Books for Young Readers  ISBN: 978-1481419482
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Snow Day

10/18/2018

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King Alice by Matthew Cordell

"Idea!" said Alice
A girl dressed in red. A family. Snow.  King Alice and The Wolf in the Snow delight with charm and wit.   
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How does one follow up after an award-winning wordless book? Matthew Cordell ventures in a completely different direction, introducing readers to King Alice, a precocious girl who is filled with opinions, stories of her own creation, and ideas. Lots and lots of ideas. She does not want for words.
It's a snow day, which means that everyone in the household is homebound. For one regal young lady, its a day filled with possibilities: make-over for dad, tea party, writing a story, watching the TV show "Unicorn Buddies," creating a unicorn stampede.  ​
Inevitably, Dad reaches his breaking point. The antics are too much. Alice is sent to time out. ​The King apologizes.
​Dinner. Bath. Bedtime stories. Peace restored. ​​
​Dad and King Alice are the main attractions in this day's escapades, but a mother, infant, and cat have cameo roles.
The final page hints of further exploits for this King and her subjects. One hopes that she will make a return appearance.
Cordell's line drawings with watercolor wash capture the vibrancy of family life. Body language and facial expressions of this slightly stressed duo are counter-balanced by the calming influence of Mom.  Two styles of illustrations, the narrator's line drawings and Alice's pencil and crayon renderings offer differing points of view. Page design is an essential story element. Build-up to the climactic afternoon is depicted in full page spreads: a family lunch (calm before the storm), the unicorn stampede, and the resulting time out. 
Note: This book was shared at a recent multi-generational family gathering. From the youngest independent reader, to a sophisticated teen, parents, and even grandparents were captivated by King Alice. It is recommended that you share this book with a wide range of ages. It's a sure-fire can't-miss-hit, even on a day without snow.
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More Matthew Cordell 

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Copy provided by publisher.
Pub date: September 25, 2018 Publisher: Feiwel & Friends  ISBN:  978-1250047496
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Which Witch?

10/1/2018

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Hansel and Gretel by Bethan Woollvin

...because Willow was a good witch
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Bethan Woollvin has done it again! A well-known fairy tale is turned it on its ear. This time the story’s surprise element is evident at the onset: two spoiled and mean-spirited children, Hansel and Gretel encounter the home of a kindly witch named Willow.
Because she is a good witch, she returns their boorish behavior with kindness. When the twins commence to eat her home (which is made of gingerbread) she responds by preparing a delicious meal. When the children refuse to help her tidy up the forest, she overlooks their thoughtlessness.
"Willow did not get angry, because Willow was a good witch"
But enough is enough. Even for a good witch. When the children discover her book of magic spells and her magic wand, chaos and catastrophe take over her tidy little residence. It's time for Willow to take action because...
"Willow was not ALWAYS a good witch."
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Bethan's wit is liberally sprinkled throughout the pages. She manages to poke fun at existing tropes. (Yes, there is an oven scene. But not what you expect.) The subtle empowerment theme runs throughout.  But truly it's a great story that will be read and enjoyed again and again.
Her signature graphic style is evident. The cover features the top of heads, with expressive eyes which tell a story in and of themselves. The spot of color is a brilliant orange.  So now a Christmas classic works equally well for Halloween, and many other occasions. 
Thanks Bethan for another classic fairy tale remix.

Gingerbread Goodness

Time to make some sweet and spicy gingerbread goodness.  If you're a good witch, feel free to share with children.
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Make some fragrant playdough
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Gingerbread recipe
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Step-by-step directions for creating your own 
​Gingerbread House

More Woollin Fairy Tale Retellings

If you have missed either of these inventive retellings, now is the time to correct that. Experience Little Red Riding Hood and Rapunzel in an entirely different way.
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Uncorrected copy provided by publisher.
​Pub date: October 1, 2018  Publisher: Peachtree Publishers  ISBN: 978-1682630730
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Do You Believe in Magic?

9/13/2018

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Smoke and Mirrors by K. D. Halbrook

...making up stories doesn’t make me a liar...It makes me a storyteller
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Weaving a tale of wonder filled with pain, regret, resolve, hope, and a generous dose of magic is difficult. K. D. Halbrook's words seem to flow effortlessly, creating an illusion that is enchanting, while simultaneously heartbreaking.  
Sasha and Toddy are children of Cirque Magnifique performers. From infancy, their lives have revolved around the wonder of daring aerial acts and dazzling costumes. People come from afar to marvel at these performances. Everyone, that is, except for the residents on the other side of the island. They will have nothing to do with this strangeness
Sasha is devastated when their parents decide that the siblings must attend school with the island children. She believes that she won't fit in. She doesn’t.
​The Cirque kids were color in a gray world, they were many languages and strange accents, they were children of bizarre grown-ups who didn’t have normal jobs or wear normal clothes or carry the same tired expressions in their eyes, like the other island parents did.
Then she notices the beginnings of something sinister. Tendrils of acrid gray mist, known as the Smoke are creeping into her world.  She is both repulsed and intrigued by this shadowy presence. Then one day in an angry outburst to her mother she declares that she wants to disappear.  She wants the Smoke to take them all away from the Cirque. Her fury causes her parents to make a fateful error. High above the ground, without a net, Smoke fills the tent and her father misses grasping the trapeze bar. She watches as her parents plummet to the earth, only to become birds at the last possible moment and fly away.
Stricken with guilt, Sasha takes Toddy and goes in search of the Smoke. To defeat the Smoke they must find the Magician at The Edge of the World, remove his curse, and rescue their parents. Their quest takes them sailing on a ship sprouted from a magic seed..  They encounter King Crab, the Sharp-Beaked Weasel, a Unimoose, and the Grandelion. ​The fantastical beasts are imbued with distinctive personalities and are a bit reminiscent of characters Alice meets in Wonderland. Like Alice, Sasha must use her wits and summon courage she didn't know she possessed. She makes friends in unexpected places and learns to forgive herself.  She heals as she recalls and enumerates the good things in her life.
You remember every nice thing that's happened to you. The people who hugged you when you were sad. The ones who invited you to their birthday party and gave you nicest piece of cake. You think about the most beautiful sights on the island.
Sasha's journey brings closure and peace to her family, the Cirque Magnifique performers, a newly-found friend, a former enemy, and importantly, to herself.
Some book covers resonate with me. This one does. I loved the slightly Art Nouveau graphic design. Note the symmetrical image of the girl. The shapes on each half of the body are the same, but the coloring on each side is different, suggesting duality. What was with the entwined birds? Why was she holding feathers? Smoke and Mirrors had me intrigued before I even cracked the cover. Kudos to the case designer.
Uncorrected copy provided by publisher.
​Pub date: September 4, 2018 Publisher: Simon & Schuster/Paula Wiseman Books ISBN: 978-1534405042
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UpLifting

8/7/2018

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The Lifters by Dave Eggers read by Dion Graham

His only friend – – it was so odd to think of Catalina this way, given they’d only spoken once--
​had disappeared down golden steps inside a hill.
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Gran, short for Granite, and his family have moved to Carousel, living in his great grandfather's old home. Everything seems lonely and a bit off balance. No one at school speaks to him. It's as if he doesn’t exist. One day he comes upon classmate Catalina entering a hidden door in the ground. Gran is intrigued and follows her. He discovers a series of subterranean tunnels, crisscrossing the earth beneath the town. He watches as Catalina labors underground, propping up the tunnels with all manner of items to keep the town from sinking. The two join forces, working to defeat The Hollows, powerful winds which sense sadness and threaten to tunnel deep underground, blowing away the foundations of Carousel.
This fantastical story is based on the metaphorical premise that young people can help to lift and save their community and also perhaps the world. Enchanting and heartwarming tale.
From the outset, Graham delivers. He is the master of the thoughtful pause. Each paragraph is given proper consideration without rushing on to the next chapter. The narrator creates a fluid narrative that moves the tale forward seamlessly. Individual voices are distinctive and imbue each character with a unique personality. From excitable Maisie, to self-assured and slightly sarcastic Catalina, to The Duke from Cuba, Graham's golden voice brings every individual to life. He handles tongue twisters such as "marauding mass moose" with aplomb. There is plenty of humor is his presentation. As he approaches the final chapters of the book (there are one hundred thirteen chapters) his voice hints at his increasing astonishment at the number of chapters, as he announces each subsequent number.
I enjoyed every sequence, every scene.  Gran, his family, Catalina, and the residents of Carousel with their endearing quirks won my heart. Thank you, Dave Eggers and Dion Graham for this delightful adventure.

Listen Up

I could listen to Dion Graham read literature indefinitely. His range is impressive and his body of work extensive. He delivers a superb performance in all genres and for every age of listener. Listen to a portion of his narration from The Lifters. Give your ears and your imagination a treat with these samples of his narrations. Click on the cover to hear an audiobook snippet.
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Bonus

The credits mention an aspect of the book that I missed: the art. The stunning cover is the work of the remarkable Fan Brothers. I know Aaron Renier from his Unsinkable Walker Bean graphic novel series. I was pleased to see his illustrations liberally scattered throughout the text. After listening to Graham’s brilliant narration, it was interesting to compare the pictures that I painted in my mind with Mr. Renier's interpretation of the story.
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Release date: April 24, 2018 Publisher: Listening Library
Audiobook accessed via Overdrive
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Swept Away

7/30/2018

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Sweep: The Story of a Girl and Her Monster by Jonathan Auxier

You made my heart wake up
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Welcome to the world of Victorian England’s chimney sweeps. Jonathan Auxier has created a tale that is part historical fiction, part fantasy, part social commentary, and pure magic.
​Nan Sparrow has only known life as a chimney sweep. From infancy she was nurtured by a man she calls the Sweep. Together they did more than simply survive a grubby, demanding life of toil and deprivation. Instead he taught Nan to find joy in what others might deem a joyless existence.
​The Sweep had never understood how a person could sleep through the sunrise. 'It's like Heaven itself is offering you a gift you're too lazy to open,' he used to say. Then he'd wink and add, 'Ah, well. More for us.'
One night the Sweep disappears. Nan is left companionless, stranded in a cruel existence of climbing through gritty chimney flues. Bullied and browbeaten by her pompous, evil overseer, Master Crudd, Nan soldiers on with the few meager items bequeathed to her: the Sweep’s hat and a small chunk of char.
​Then a miracle occurs. Nan becomes trapped in a cramped flu. A conniving chimney sweep sets a match to the bottom of the chimney, causing a huge explosion. Nan is painfully expelled to the rooftop and in the process, the lump of soot comes to life.
​And yet, here in the dusty crawl space, she held a miracle in her hands.
​She names this sooty lump Charlie. Perhaps he is a monster, or maybe a Golem. Nan is not sure. Whatever. It becomes evident to her that there is a purpose to his existence. Her destiny is entwined with his.
"A sage or rabbi--​ that is, a Jewish priest— forms a body out of mud or clay and then brings the creature to life with a sort of magic word called a Shem"...
"In your stories, why did the rabbi make his golem?"
"Why does a person create anything? Out of necessity... The golem is made to help people who fear for their lives.”
Auxier's storytelling abilities excel in this fantasy filled with richly-drawn characters. Nan, Charlie, as well as her friends and foes, are painted with deft strokes. Like the lump of char, they come to life through his dexterous prose.
The premise of a Golem is intriguing. The story thread maintains its tension until the tale reaches its inevitable conclusion. Auxier manages to weave the realities of life for the poor and under-privileged into a saga of wonder and magic. It is a story of pain and death, sorrow and disappointment, redemption and possibility, enchantment and wonder. It is a tale to read again and again. There is magic infused into each paragraph, each chapter. Sweep: The Story of a Girl and Her Monster is destined to be a timeless classic.

Stories to Tell. Stories to Share.

It is an ancient need to be told in stories. But the story needs a great storyteller.   Alan Rickman
I distinctly recall attending a book launch at Books of Wonder for debut author Jonathan Auxier. I can still picture the jacket he wore and his demeanor as he cradled his very first book in his hands and described the premise for Peter Nimble and His Fantastic Eyes. I was enchanted. From that day forward, I believed that he would go on to create more magical characters and compelling adventures. My belief has become a reality. Thanks Mr. Auxier, for filling my soul with story soup.
Sometimes on nights when there was no food to eat, the girl and her Sweep used to make Story soup. The girl would fill her pockets with trash she found on the streets - scraps of paper or trampled strings or bits of colored glass. At the end of the day, she would present these things to The Sweep. “Make Story soup!” she would tell him.’
​”Oh-ho!” The Sweep would always exclaim, rubbing his belly with both hands. ‘You’ve brought us ingredients for a right feast!’
Have you noticed that all Auxier book covers feature silhouettes set against a richly variegated sky? Each story is a beautifully wrapped gift. Each is an enticing invitation to enter the fantastical worlds of Jonathan Auxier.
​It's a very private thing to open a present and a person deserves to do it on his own way.
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Bonus: The Wit and Wisdom of Sweep

​What is a year?
A year is a bunch of days put together.
Oh, it's much more than that! ...A year is a little lifetime.
Uncorrected copy provided by publisher.
​Pub date: September 25, 2018  Publisher: Amulet Books ISBN: 978-1419731402
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Stories for All

7/2/2018

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The Book Tree by Paul Czajak ill Rashin Kheiriyeh

Books are dangerous! I don’t trust them. They act like seeds, which grow into ideas, and ideas turn into questions.
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Imagine a world without books. Paul Czajak invites youngsters to visit the fantastical world of Arlo, a boy who loves to read. One day, while nested in the branches of a tree with his book, misfortune strikes. The volume slips from his hands and lands upon the head of the mayor. Furious, the mayor immediately calls for the destruction of all books, as he deems them dangerous.
Arlo is bereft  when all books are torn apart and the pages float away. He is not the only one missing books. There are no more stories for children at nap time. Meals become dull, as there are no cookbooks to consult. The theater ceases to perform as there are no scripts to enact. Arlo determines that perhaps he can create stories of his own. His writing germinates a torn book page, buried deep within the earth. A book tree begins to grow, nourished by the stories Arlo writes and shares. Eventually the book tree is filled with books and the town springs back to life.
Illustrations underscore the universality of stories. Kheiriyeh chooses to use a collage of text images from a variety of alphabets and languages as books contents. The fanciful residents of the town are depicted with different skin tones. The limited color pallet of a strong red, soft aqua, and muted ochre yellow span multiple cultures.
People grew hungry for stories again. Some wrote their own stories and became book gardeners themselves.
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Meet the Author

​Paul Czajak began his professional career as a chemist. Making the shift from science to children's book author seems like a quantum leap. Czajak neatly refuses this supposition. 
​"​When it comes to science people have this idea that it is all numbers and equations, but in fact science is filled with creativity.  Go look at a picture of the Hadron Collider and try to tell me that didn’t take some serious imagination."
He is the author the Monster and Me series.  Monster Needs Your Vote might be an appropriate selection to read during this national election cycle.
​Paul has created coloring pages, which may be downloaded from his website.
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Meet the Illustrator

Iranian-American artist ​Rashin Kheiriyeh brings her distinctive style to fine art as well as children's book illustration. She is the recipient of numerous international awards including 2017 Sandak Fellow Award, six-time winner at the Bologna Book Fair, and Golden Apple Award at the Biennial of Illustration Bratislava (BIB), Slovakia. 
Review based on an electronic copy.
Pub date: September 30,  2018       Publisher: Barefoot Books    ISBN: 978-1782854050
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These Stories are Ours: Myths of Mexico

5/22/2018

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Feathered Serpent, Dark Heart of Sky: Myths of Mexico
by David Bowles

Can you see the looms of our grandmothers, shuttling out colors, the weft and woof of so many tribes?
They unfurl through the ages, frayed or unraveled by time and conquest like well-worn, rainbowed rebozos.
Take up the threads, each of you, and weave me the multi-hued fabric of our history...
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Feathered Serpent, Dark Heart of Sky: Myths of Mexico stitches together a remarkable tapestry of Mesoamerican mythology. David Bowles begins by amplifying and enriching the saga of well-known brothers: Feathered Serpent, also known as Quetzalcoatl, and Heart of Sky, also known as Hurricane or Tezcatlipoca, with fascinating details gleaned from his extensive research.  His poetic language is rich and evocative.
Feathered Serpent burst from the cosmic sea and took flight through the endless sky, his long bodyrippling with bright red, green and blue plumes.
Heart of Sky swirled to life in the heavens before dropping to waters and spinning like a violent cyclone, dark smoke curling from the black mirror on his forehead.
The narrative continues in roughly chronological fashion, recounting the five ages of the world. The fifth age includes stories of the gods Quetzalcoatl and Tezcatlipoca in human form, as well as retellings taken from Mayan and Aztec lore.
The book concludes with the arrival of the Spanish in 1519. Importantly, this account is presented from the point of view of the conquered indigenous people of Mexico and provides much needed perspective and understanding to this period of history.
One of the most compelling aspects of this work is the inclusion of bold and fearless women. Brave Erendira loved the earth and her mother country.  She desperately tried to rally her people to fight the invading armies. Riding a captured white horse, she was a symbol of hope. 
Princess Donaji was destined to serve her people and eventually give her life for them. She was beheaded and from her severed head blossomed a lily of exquisite beauty. Her likeness is memorialized on the city of Oaxaca's coat of arms. 
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In the early 1940s the former St. Augustine temple was turned into a public library.  Juan O'Gorman painted a graphic history of Michoacán right where the altar used to be. Princess Eréndira is riding the white horse on the left side of the painting. Wikkipedia
These final stories are ours​, mestizo missives and manuscripts and music.
We wrote them down, recited them, shared them, mind to mind.
They live on in our histories, in our poetry, on our lips, in our hearts.
The cativating tales are organized into small chunks that may be read consecutively. It is also possible to dip into selected individual sections throughout the volume. The introduction provides valuable background information.  A Guide to Pronunciation and Glossary are helpful reference points while reading. Notes on Sources and a Bibliography round out back matter
An excellent resource for those interested in exploring epic tales, world mythologies, history and culture of Mexico. Highly recommended for students, teachers, historians and storytellers.
Review based on copy provided by the publisher.
Pub date: May 22, 2018       Publisher: Cinco Puntos Press    ISBN: 978-1941026717
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    Barbara Moon

    I like talking about books and  interesting ideas. I like thinking about how books affect my life. Not particularly interested in giving out stars or in rating books. 

    Audio Publishers Association
    2013, - present  Audies judge 
    American Library Association Book Awards and Lists 
    ​2017 YALSA Award Nominating Committee
    2016 Excellence in Nonfiction 
    2014 Margaret Edwards Award
    2012 Odyssey Awards.  
    2009, 2010, 2011 Great Graphic Novels for Teens.

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